For Battles, I too say a 'Fuck!!!!!!!!' Even a Holy Fuck?

I think if Frank Zappa mated with an Ewok and made music with Albert Einstein, Battles is what would happen. Music once again, has probability. These layers of cut and jut infra-rock need multiple plays to comprehend.

The stratosphere of my Battles headphone context is in multi-dimensional disbelief.

The vocals or vocalist impressions sound like Ewoks chanting and calling. If and when you play Battles on your I-pod repeat and go for a walk, you would end up in Yelm without even realizing it.

There, in Yelm, WA, you would channel the pagan warrior, Ramtha with JZ Knight, a Yelm resident. Battles would be the perfect warrior channeling soundtrack. Ewoks will do all the conquering though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JZ_Knight

No relation to our own JZ, or is there? I mean, he's a big fan…

Seconded. I had a musician boyfriend tell me this about six years ago, and I've seen the theory in action numerous times since. All those shoe-gazing, low-slung guitarists couldn't hold a candle to Battles last night. I was especially mesmerized watching Braxton's deft fingers snake up and down the frets. That damn pillar was blocking my view of his right hand, so to me it looked like he was playing his guitar just like he did the keyboard.

the two funniest things i've heard so far. people dancing and having fun, being told to stop. girl trying to get to the wc, told not to come back. what's that about? anyway going to the croc is always a trip to to the late 90's. yes, we know all you street walking cheetahs are cooler than us, so prove it by having fun and not being so grouchy and elitist. 'your genres got a hold on you'. truer words.... but omg maybe mines got a hold of me and i should planet myself like a tree when i see a show...

btw - in montreal battles played w/ uncut. that would have a much, much better show.

Oh and somehow whilst I dance, I can still see the artists I am there to see. When I dance I am extremely courteous to those around me.

...and no it was quite difficult to move at all let alone dance, but thank for your insight.

cheers!

Math rock and jam bands are almost nothing alike, except that both require a higher level of musical skill (not necessarily talent, just skill i.e., practice) than the average garage band that rulez Seattle.

Math rock is an offshoot of prog rock, like more approachable metal. It's very precise with weird time signatures, but songs are played the same way every time. In fact, that's a matter of pride. It need not have groove or be particularly soulful. As long as it appears to be complicated.

Jam bands play songs differently every single time. But the beat is pretty consistent. The groove is king, you have to get all those sweaty hippies doing the sweaty hippy dance.

Jam bands are closer to jazz because jazz most often involves some improv. But unlike jazz, jam bands usually feature (a.) bad-to-horrible singers singing bad-to-horrible lyrics (b.) much simpler chords, time signatures, and arrangements (c.) nobody of African descent on the stage or in the audience.

Battles is more math-prog, but really they're like a weird Butthole Surfers/Test Department offshoot. Psychedelic weirdness.